Expectations for Klay in Dallas, Power Ranking the Western Conference | East Coast Bias | Ringer NBA

Expectations for Klay in Dallas, Power Ranking the Western Conference | East Coast Bias | Ringer NBA

[Music] welcome back so the big move out west because of what this certain player has done on the I was going to say the back of the basketball card it doesn’t sound as cool to be honest the back of the baseball card just rings and rolls off the tongue a lot more but I’ll say the resume the track record whatever you have it for Kay Thompson it’s exemplary he’s a four-time champion he is an incredible playoff performer he’s had some iconic NBA playoff games including the one in Oklahoma City in a game six and now house the Splash Brothers No More Golden State moving on and the Dallas Mavericks going get Klay Thompson I thought for sure he was goingon to go to the Lakers just the the father son connection I thought the Lakers LeBron trying to take less money it didn’t end up playing out that way he goes to a team that’s just got a Flatout better chance to win that’s all there is to it Luca Kyrie carried that team to a title or to West Title ran into trouble when they made it to the NBA finals didn’t have enough options didn’t have enough shooting whatever it may be Quay is gonna get a lot of looks Clay is also not gonna have the ball as much as far as fit is concerned house you like the fit of Kay Thompson going to Dallas in theory it makes sense I I just wonder how much at this stage in his career Kay Thompson has left to give well to me it’s a tremendous fit and JJ I know the the Romantic in you you want to look at the back of of of the card that you can hold we just go to the basketball reference page if you does back the web page okay go to the basketball reference guy has it all it’s right there on one page um and it is a a a luminous resume that we see associated with Mr Klay Thompson now for a whole variety of reasons it makes sense that his uh run with golden state ended kind of the way it did I know that there are some stories out there with some animosity and who was treated the right way and what was the communication like and honestly I don’t care about any of that that’s all soap opera save it for your mama drama that they can work on up in the Bay Area and you know Point figures however they want I thought what Dallas did in this off season with really not an enormous set of of financial tools right because all we’re talking about is the collective bargain agreement and this apron and that apron and all the rest of it but I think that improved immensely because they turned uh uh Josh green and Derk Jones Jr into Naji Marshall and Klay Thompson that is a significant Improvement Derek Jones Jr kudos to that man for showing out the best year of his entire career in Dallas went and got himself a bag with the clippers but when we saw him in Prime Time against the Boston Celtics he was neither strong enough physically strong enough nor accurate enough on offense to help Dallas get into a competitive position with the Celtics he was undersized and undere experienced Klay Thompson is Superior in both of those respects now I think it’s absolutely right to look at the impact that Derrick Jones Jr had over the course of the entire regular season what a defensive fulcrum he was for for that team on the wing for sure as Dallas uh acquired the assets post trade deadline jerck Joon Derrick Jones Jr was a very nice compliment but I think what Naji Marshall brings to the table more than makes up for the loss of of of Derrick Jones Jr and I think this Dallas team is is ready to go Clay is going to get the perfect Touches under the perfect circumstances he’s never played with somebody who could distribute the ball that L the way that Luca donic can it’s set up for great success and I’m knocking on wood let’s get some health man let’s just have that team healthy as well because they’re right there in that conversation for one of the top three teams in the west and I’m here to tell you it’s only three teams in the west fellas we’ll have this conversation we’ll have this convers very Raheem very bullish our boy house here on the Mavericks very very bullish and listen I I get it I just I have questions about what Quay Thompson you’re getting I know he’s GNA have something to prove and you know you throw that dangling care to motivation but you know how if you were tell me you were getting Klay Thompson from like four or five years ago I’d be like yeah this is a this is slam dunk for the Mavericks Raheem I’m skeptical on what you’re gonna get out of Klay Thompson because he did not look like the same guy with the Warriors last season I’m very skeptical um and I think the big reason why is because I don’t think klay’s defense is what it was when you look at what he did on the court with the Golden State Warriors last year I think he he they had A8 defensive rating and it was to the point where you had people saying Brandon pinski should be closing games over Klay Thompson so I I do think he’s going to bring shooting to the Mavericks but I think what you lose with Derrick Jones Jr is a great Wing Defender so I’m I’m a little concerned about that I do like the addition of Naji Marshall but I just think this team takes a little step back defensively um at the expense of their offense um which I mean that could be a good thing because I do think they got a little bit exposed against the Boston Celtics but I just don’t I don’t see everything breaking their way for them the same way it did last year I felt like they got really really lucky um and I don’t see that happening this year so um I think they’ll obviously be in the mix because you have Luca Dage but you know Kyrie Irvin’s getting older I just think some of the other teams in the Western Conference are better options like the Oklahoma City okay I’m glad you got there because how you reference the three teams that you see at the top of the West pecking order to me there is a clearcut number one at this stage rahee just nailed it it’s Oklahoma City and I would argue no team has had a better off season than the Thunder to go and get Alex Caruso and what he provides toughness defense three-point shooting winning intangibles and to go get my guy horstein who was fantastic for the Knicks and it takes so much of the pressure off of a guy like Chad Homen where it’s like all right you don’t got to bang go do you bro go block shots go hit threes go kind of freelance and we’ll let honstein go and do the dirty work inside and rahee and I were all over this the rebounding disparity ended up being problematic for OKC now they get a guy who’s going to get after it on the grass they’re going to get more toughness on the perimeter and they’re bringing basically the rest of the team back how’s they the best team in the Western Conference I don’t think it’s close I mean way to go out on a limb JJ I would argue that you would argue they would the best they did the best of course they did the best they did the best they were in the best position to do something meaningful in this uh off off season and they did it they had you could have argued Philly with George to be fair those who who would be serious with that I’m just saying I’m just trying to give you give you an option PG two3 no nobody I I think Philly did a good job Oklahoma City they already had a higher floor already and they just kicked get over to the top they just raised their their that’s right that’s right we we’re all in agreement this is a family play I told you guys at the beginning of the week that I was buying Futures on Oklahoma City ahead of them signing hartenstein because it looked like they were the Front Runners for it and you know that market moved I got them at 10 to1 to win the NBA finals and I got them at plus 460 to win the Western Conference uh and I was like fine with with putting my money down you got to wait wait wait wait wait wait wait wait wait for all of that to come to fruition but I don’t think those numbers are going to move back you know from where they are right now I think they’re seven to one to win the NBA uh championship and they’re in the low 400s or high 300s to win the West now I don’t think those numbers are going to slide because that team is built for it they’re built for it in the regular season and they’re built for it now in the playoffs the the the big frustration with Oklahoma City and you the podfather was on this rillo was on this is why Oklahoma City didn’t do something over the course of last season with as close as they were to making it you know all the way through um why didn’t they acquire some of this size and you know you can’t really argue with um them getting the job done now you can quibble with whether or not the same kind of opportunities were available for this quality of player that they’ve acquired Alex kuso wasn’t available at the trade deadline they weren’t getting Caruso orstein last that’s the point right so you got to give it up to pry for the for the patience and you would say they sacrificed this year’s playoff run to get those guys some seasoning because because the the the two JS needed some of that playoff seasoning especially SGA getting some playoff seasoning Chad hman getting some playoff seasoning I think all of that you know history has taught us that a young team like that needs to go through it at least once but in this era where every year we’re swapping out a new champion at the top of the NBA um Oklahoma City’s right there Jens okay the top three you had house you’re gonna put Oklahoma City one I’m with you on that who you put in two and three Minnesota two and Dallas three wow no no Denver what’s the case for Denver who yic yeah yic that’s my case we watched that that’s my case I I understand we watched it what happened what happened I would still them over I would put them over Dallas myself I’m with you Minnesota I’m with you Minnesota I’d go OKC Minnesota I think I would put Denver ahead of Dallas here’s the thing you need to open up um espn.com or whatever your website of choice basketball reference b game look at the Denver Nuggets roster they’re missing four veterans that were on that title team very crucial to to the run and they have done absolutely nothing to replace that Talent now the rumor is that they’re trying to acquire Russell Westbrook let me ask you right now JJ oh I hate that honestly that makes me cringe I almost want to take that back if they bring Westbrook into the to be honest before we do that let me ask you this who’s their best player Off the Bench who’s the number one player off the bench for the Denver Nuggets who who leaves their second unit are you putting Braun Brown however you say his name Kristen Brown is going to be their starting shooting guard he has to start he has to start who’s the best player at the bench that’s a fair qu Fair counter I gotta think about that because I can’t give you a good answer I was gonna say Braun but he’s gonna be start well I’m not worried about you the Denver can’t give me a good answer that’s the problem for Denver but here’s what I would counter with they’re the sort of team that can go and find vet minimum guys because of joic and Murray don’t you get that sense they not like they’re not like a t Seed where people gonna be like I don’t want to play there I feel like they can no for sure maybe not get a great bench but they can get some guys in there that say hey we want to go and ring chase you know but here’s the here’s the problem when you look at the Denver Nuggets last year the biggest reason for their success was their starting lineup and when you remove one of those guys from the starting lineup they weren’t as successful well now you don’t have Chris Str Bing I mean excuse me now you don’t have cavius called cwell pop and you’re replacing him with Christian braa and the bench is even weaker and you’re talking about bringing in Russell Westbrook who look he’s played with the who’s who of NBA Hall of Famers at this point in time and he hasn’t accomplished anything so if you ask me they the attrition on this roster has like it’s done too much damage for them to overcome and you saw it in game seven joic played the entire second half and he had he ran out of gas and then you look at a guy like Jamal Murray he’s been injured like he’s gotten injured as just as much as any injury or prone superstar in this leag like he tore his ACL a couple years ago and last year he wasn’t the same guy so I don’t know if joic can overcome this I think he’s in the similar situation as Janis s DMO with the injuries that they’ve had there I I totally agree JJ and here here’s the thing the real problem is they paid Michael Porter Jr all that money they don’t have for him last year they have a Michael Porter Jr problem that’s the whole thing if he shoots lights out and he can be the two-way player that rises up to the level of the contract they are paying him then they’re in the mix I absolutely positively will countenance them we can we could have a good uh oldfashioned knockdown drag out between Dallas and Denver on who the third best team in the west is but if Michael Porter Jr shows up like he did in the playoffs this that we just closed out Dallas is I mean Denver is cooked in my humble opinion okay would they be better suited I don’t know if they can do this off the postseason that he just had R they better suited trying to shot Michael Porter to get a couple of pieces for him that’s a tough one they might they might they they they might be I mean but I mean you have to ask yourself who’s available I think that’s that that’s the tough thing at this point in time because it’s just you know you look at the Philadelphia 76ers they got the top guy in Paul George and if they didn’t get him they were in in a world of trouble you know Tobias Harris just signed for like 52 million to Detroit Pistons so like who else are you gon to get so they’re they’re pretty much stuck with this roster and they have to just nail their draft picks and make moves around the margins and I don’t know if that’s possible okay top three for House OKC minut Minnesota Mavericks I’m swapping Dallas for Denver Raheem who would you put in that three spot because I know you’re going one two you put Minnesota too I know that yeah it’s definitely it’s definitely Oklahoma City and Minnesota but I’m Gonna Leave number three blank I think a sleeper can you’re going classic TBD okay be because I would not be surprised if the Memphis Grizzlies emerge I would not be surprised if the New Orleans Pelicans emerge I would not even be surprised at this point and people are going to call me crazy but I think this could be a resurgent season for the Phoenix Suns like I think any one of those teams can emerge and I like the move that the Phoenix Suns made to bring in Mason plumbley like I thought that was great because with nage off the court theyve really struggled so like as I told you yesterday on wise Wednesdays I think the Phoenix Suns are a great bet to win the Pacific Division at plus 200 and we’re completely out house right on Lakers Warriors raheem’s gonna make the case for the Suns you could sell me they’re a little bit better I new coach better year out of Beal your buddy I am out I am not getting any involvement with the Lakers and the Warriors under no circumstance can I do that this year if anything the only involvement for them will be unders this year that’s it yeah my my most favorite thing that I that I prepared for today is to ask you guys who the best team in California is because I know who I think the best team in California that that’s my I think the I don’t think it’s close I don’t think so either and I think there’s another move for them to make they are in this conversation for Lowry Markin in and they’re in the conversation for for other potential you know sort of trade pieces that are out there they have first round picks they have you know Expendable Wing depth that would really help other teams like uh Kevin hoer and uh you know Harrison Barnes but you know that would just be a vet kind of thing I was surprised when when dream made the case for Phoenix because when he said yall are going to think I’m crazy I was sure he was going to say Houston um because I’m not sleeping I’m not sleeping on houon either I’m not I’m not I’m not sleeping on Houston either but I just think that Pacific Division is so weak now I think the Clippers are taking a step back I think the Lakers they can’t improve the Warriors are trash at this point in time I just think with the healthy roster with Mike booser who I have a ton of respect for and you look at what he did with the Bucks I mean like Adrien Grifford Doc Rivers I mean they haven’t been able to match anything that the Mike Bo holders has done so I think the Phoenix Suns are going to be a lot better I think they’re going to be healthier and I think at bare minimum they win that division well they are at plus 200 they’re the favorite to win the division but I’ll just tell you guys that all the way down there 5 to1 plus 500 the Sacramento Kings I’m in that space and basically I’m what I’m buying is the fact that I do think they’re going to make one more move and they’re going to end up with a very deep uh six to man um rotation but I understand the case you’re making for the sun’s dream and honestly I don’t even really uh quibble with it I do think bu Holzer is going to have have a material impact on that team I just can’t um invest in any team with Bradley Beal on it that’s all it’s against my cont I don’t blame you but you know what I also like the idea of investing now in young teams and emerging teams and I know Sacramento in many ways took a step back last year right but two years ago we were talking about them as a top three seed in the Western Conference they lost a hard fought what seven game series to the Warriors they kind of profile as a team that should win a lot of regular season games if they just give it you know what on defense that’s really their biggest problem and and they don’t have any injury like they still ended up at 46 wins and they missed Malik monk you know for a good portion of the lat latter part of the season and and they missed the Aaron Fox for a portion at the beginning of the season and still finish at 46 wins uh last year so yeah I I like what you’re talking about JJ [Music]

The guys discuss the Klay Thompson signing, OKC’s finals outlook, and power rank the Western Conference.

Check out the Bill Simmons YouTube channel: youtube.com/billsimmons

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